We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

How Do I Choose the Best Power Cord?

By Lori Kilchermann
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
About Mechanics is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At About Mechanics, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject-matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

When attempting to choose the best power cord for any application, you will need to choose a cord with the heaviest wire. You should also choose from only the power cord choices that include a grounding pin on the plug. If the power cord will be used in a wet environment, a sealed plug design also may be advantageous to you. When choosing a cord to be used on a construction site, color is commonly a deciding factor when selecting the best cord possible. Other considerations when you are attempting to decide on the best cord available to you are the cord's length, number of outlets and amperage rating.

Commonly referred to as an extension cord due to the ability of the cord to extend the use of electricity away from the outlet, the best power cord often provides much more than simple electricity. When choosing a potential power cord, you can protect both yourself and your tools by choosing a cord with a proper ground system. This will protect the user against electric shock if the cord happens to be cut or nicked and comes into contact with water. Some of the better cords also incorporate a surge protector into the design of the power cord to protect your tools against unforeseen power surges.

If possible, you should never choose a very thin cord. This type of cord often has light gauge wire that is prone to overheating under the load of some types of power tools. You will usually be better off with a large-diameter power cord. This is especially true if operating more than one power tool or device on a single electrical cord. Also a plus when choosing an electric cord for use on a construction site is a cord that incorporates a heavy nylon cord inside of the electric cord; this will allow you to pull a power tool up to higher elevations by the electric cord without damaging the cord.

The color of a power cord can also be a determining factor when you are attempting to choose the best cord for a given application. By choosing a brightly-colored electrical cord, tripping accidents are reduced by the easy-to-see cord. It is also less likely to accidentally cut through a brightly-colored power cord. The highly-visible, colored cord is not easily lost in the tangle that so often is the case on a work site.

About Mechanics is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.